Every now and again I meet a woman whose vulnerability is both intentional and well-tended. Erin S. Lane is such a woman.

As co-editor of Talking Taboo: American Christian Women Get Frank About Faith I asked her to talk about her newly published book and join me for an Emerald City.

Talking Taboo pulled me in immediately. In Chapter 1,  Amy Frykholm (my first Emerald City guest!) essay writes about watching a female lecturer. This academician spoke deftly while revealing just enough cleavage (intentionally) to forbid the male dominated room from objectifying her as either an asexual academician or a piece of meat. Frykholm is the first of 40 women under age 40 to join their voices in this button-pushing about being female.

As Erin has explained this week at her blog “Holy Hellions:

In Talking Taboo, there are many essays that address what happens at the boundaries of our body –  in the form of breast milk and menstrual blood, in the act of masturbation and sex . . . essays about what happens at the borders of our social body – in the debate over immigration reform and in the silence on domestic violence victims in prison.

Taboo is not just something that is considered off-limits. It’s something so powerful that it must be contained.

In this Emerald City, watch for Erin’s gift for clarity in her thinking, look for her capacity for intentional vulnerability. Some of my highlights:

Minute  12:53 on the “I Speak for Myself” dialog that begins with wonder about what’s going on in you.  15:36 why be child-free. 17:30 how to talk to women who don’t have children, by choice.  Don’t miss 19:46 where I practice some vulnerability.

22:44 the “ministry of availability”. 27:27 what nuclear families can learn from broken families.  31:38 the problem with women thinking of themselves as “vessels.” 37 we talk about cross- sex friendship. By  44:33 Erin’s talking about “holy danger.”

My favorite line from our interview: “God needs you to be you.”

Erin will interact in the comments. Best comment or question (voted on by you) gets a free copy of Talking Taboo.

Here’s where Erin works: The Center for Courage and Renewal. And the homeless ministry, Family Promise, where Erin and her husband volunteer to take the night shift with the homeless. Finally, a link to Amelia Bedelia, the inspiration for Erin’s dog’s name.

Follow Erin @holyhellions